Uncovering new lineages in the Sunda Pangolin (<em>Manis javanica</em>) with museum mitogenomics

Accurately identifying evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) is crucial for conservation planning, especially for species like pangolins threatened by overhunting and habitat loss. ESUs help categorize different pangolin populations, aiding in understanding their genetic diversity and distribution, which is vital for targeted conservation efforts. This research generated mitochondrial genomes from historical museum specimens of Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) from underrepresented locations, uncovering a new evolutionary lineage from the Mentawai Islands. The novel sequences provide resources for forensic labs tracing the origin of confiscated scales and limit the potential distribution of the "mysterious pangolin." The Mentawai Archipelago represents a divergent ESU with a small distribution, important for conservation planning. Additionally, this research confirmed the presence of two major M. javanica lineages in Java and extended the known distribution to Bali and East Kalimantan. These findings support the "Out of Borneo" hypothesis and suggest a recent colonization of pangolins across Indochina and west Sundaland. This study also highlights the need for further investigation into the taxonomic status of these lineages and their management as subspecies.